SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Southern California's famous "Surfing Madonna" may soon have company.
The stained-glass mosaic of the Virgin of Guadalupe catching a wave next to the message "Save the Ocean" was illegally placed under an Encinitas bridge three years ago.
It was removed and eventually found a new home near a surf shop in Leucadia.
Now, artist Mark Patterson tells U-T San Diego that other artists will create their own interpretations of his Madonna, including one in bronze.
A new nonprofit group, the Surfing Madonna Oceans Project, will find homes for the artwork along the state's coastline in a campaign to raise awareness about environmental threats to the sea.
The project hopes to raise funds with a beach run this fall in Encinitas.
